Theodore and Martin Becker

In 1850, he married Caroline Walker who was native of Vermont.³ They then relocated to Fitchburg, Massachusetts and started a family. ⁴ In 1856, Martin purchased a house on Gove Street from the prominent Underground Railroad conductor, Benjamin Snow.^{5 6}

In March of 1857, Martin’s brother, Theodore, arrived in the port of Boston from Suriname aboard the Brig Martha Washington.⁷ When he arrived in Boston, Theodore was a practicing physician with a medical degree. In the late 1850s, Theodore moved in with Martin’s family and practiced medicine in Fitchburg. Theodore married Ann Walker, the sister of Martin’s wife, Caroline, in July of 1858 and started a family.

When the Civil War broke out, both Martin and Theodore enlisted. In April of 1863, Theodore joined the newly formed 54^th Massachusetts Infantry. Even though he was a trained medical doctor, he was not allowed to work as a surgeon or assistant surgeon, due to the army’s stipulation preventing Black soldiers from holding an officer’s rank. Therefore Dr. Theodore Becker held the rank of Hospital Steward.

In September of 1864, an article was anonymously written about Dr. Becker by a soldier in the 54^th Massachusetts and published in The Christian Recorder, a Philadelphia newspaper.⁸ Author Joseph T. Glatthaar summarized the account in his book Forged in Battle. ⁹

Theodore’s brother, Martin, also enlisted in the Navy and later enlisted in the 55^th Massachusetts Infantry. This was the second Black regiment raised by the State of Massachusetts during the Civil War.

In 1865, he was discharged at the rank of Commissary Sergeant.¹⁰ Less than two months after his discharge from the Army, Theodore Becker sold his house in Fitchburg to the abolitionist, Benjamin Snow and moved to Charleston, South Carolina with his family.¹¹ Martin and his family joined them. Both Theodore and Martin had been stationed in South Carolina during the war.

Dr. Becker set up his medical office in Charleston where he was “happy to attend to calls for medical attendance. Particular attention paid to all chronic illnesses.”¹² This particular attention to chronic illnesses was an extremely dangerous task in the 19^th Century. Theodore soon contracted tuberculosis. It eventually took his life in March of 1870. He was buried in the Brotherly Association Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina.¹³

Martin Becker worked in the local South Carolina government and was involved in Reconstruction politics. He was chosen as a delegate representing the District of Berkeley in the South Carolina Reconstruction Convention of 1868.¹⁴ He lived the rest of his life in South Carolina and died in the 1880s.

Stories like that of the Becker brothers are just two of the thousands of stories being researched as part of the 10 Million Names project.

Notes

¹ Fitchburg Massachusetts Town vital records 1858 page 45

² South Carolina Naturalization Records, 1868-1991, Charleston Records 1866-1925 A-C (Box 1)

³ New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947 FHS Film# 004242888 page 43

⁴ Massachusetts State Census, 1855, Fitchburg, Page 34

⁵ Worcester Massachusetts Deeds, v. 559-560 1856 page

⁶ Abolitionist Park in Fitchburg approaches completion, Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise, 28 Apr 2021

⁷ Passenger lists of vessels arriving at Boston, 1820-1891 ; with index, 1848-1891, Manifest for the Brig Martha Washington 02 Mar 1857 from Suriname to Boston.

⁸ 24 Sept 1864, The Christian Recorder,

⁹ Glatthaar, Joseph T. Forged in Battle, The Civil War Alliance of Black Soldier and White Officers pages 188-189

¹⁰ Martin F Becker Compiled Military Service Record at the National Archives

¹¹ Worcester County MA Deed 1865 vol 709-710 page 526

¹² 07 Apr 1866, South Carolina Leader Page 1

¹³ Charleston SC City Death Records 1870

¹⁴ 02 Jan 1868 Yorkville Enquirer Page 3